Sample-case and equipment.



G. ROBBINS. SAMPLE CASE AND-EQUIPMENT. APPLICATION FILED JAN: 9, 1913.

Patented Feb 17, 1914.

j Bylaw GEORGE ROBBINS, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

SAMPLE-CASE sun nourrmnnr.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb,17, 1914.

Application filed January 9, 1913. Serial No. 740,834.

1 '0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, Gsouon RonmNs, a citizen of the United States, residing at .\linueapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sample- Cases and Equipments; and I do hereby dcclare the following to be a full,.-clear, and exact description of the invention. suclras will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention has for its object to provlde an improved sample case and equipment adapted for a great many different uses, but particularly adapted for use by traveling salesmen to display different slnrt samples.

It has hitherto been customary for a salesman having a line of shirts for sale to carry. in a suitable case, a sample shirt and a large number of loose sample cards or swatches. It has been found very dlfiicult to keep these samples in order, and as they are disconnected, they are liable to be displaced or lost and a great deal of time is lost sorting out and huntmg desired samples.

My invention provides a sample case and a novel arrangement of the sample cards 1n a separable chain or series, attached to the sample case in such manner that for display purposes, a chain of samples may be pulled out in a series, and when desired, may be quickly folded into compact form.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention in its preferred form, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 1s a plan view showing the sample case opened up; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sect on taken through the sample case and showing the same closed up; and Fig. 3 is a fragmontar view in perspective showing one of the lin (3 used to detachably connect the sam le cards or swatches.

T e sample case proper is in the form of a quite shallow rectangular box 1 having a hinged lid 2. The box 1 is preferably of proper size to contain a made up shirt or sample garment g which, preferably, Wlll be secured but removably held therein by ordinary tie cords 3. As shown, this sample shirt 1/ is provided with a soft collar y held in form by a temporary band board or cardboard liner 4.

The numeral 5 indicates sam le cards having secured thereto the clot samples or swatches 6. These sample cards 5 are connected in a chain by means of coupling links 7 preferably made of linen card board, but adapted to be made of many other different materials. The ends of these links 7 are formed with heads 7 adapted to be forced through slits 5'5 in the said cards 5. The chains of cards are thus flexibly connected in such manner that they may be very easily handled when drawn out into a line. To facilitate folding of the chain of cards. one on top of the other. the links 7, which are preferably of quite stifi" material, are formed with kerfs or hands 7" transversely intersecting their central portions. This adapts the chains or series of cards to be quickly folded together. Not only can the series or chain of cards be very quickly unfolded, but as they are flexibly connected, they may be laid out on a table or elsewhere, on any irregular line found desirable for good display. Of course, cards thus connected cannot be mixed up, but, nevertheless, any one card may be quickly taken out of a chain or series and a new sample card may be inserted therein at any place.

In some instances, the chain or chains of sample cards will be directly connected to the cover of the sample case, but in the present instance, I connect the same to a sort of a supplemental cover board 8, which, in turn, is detachably connected to the cover 2 by elastic bands 9 attached at their ends to the said cover 2. The board 8, at its edges is provided with over-turned flaps 10. The outer fold 10 is provided with slits 11 through which the innermost link 7 of the connected chain of sample cards is passed, thereby leaving the innermost sample card 5 held on the bord 8 with its edges under the flaps 10. as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 2 shows the series of chain of sample cards folded and the cover of the sample case closed. Fig. 1 shows two series of chains or sample cards connected to the board 8, one of the said series being folded and the other spread out. Of course, any desired, number of series of chains of these sample cards or swatches may be provided. With the collar y of the sample shirt held in form, however, it is important that the folded sam le cards be located below the collar, so t at when the cover 2 is closed, they will be carried immediately over the bosom of the shirt and below the collar thereof. This permits of a very compact arrangemcnt of the contents of the sample case, and also assists in keeping the sample shirt in good condition. When the sample cards are. folded in a pack, they are adapted to be held in that form by tie cords 12 or by the elastics 9.

The so-called display cards may be either paste board cards with swatches attached thereto or they may be the swatches themselves. The above described novel scheme for displaying samples is, of course, applicable to various other garments other than shirts and I desire to claim the invention in all of its possible uses.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. The combination with a plurality of sample cards, of intermediate links detachably and flexibly connecting the said cards I and adapting said cards to be folded in a pack and to be extended either on straight or irregular lines, the said cards being interchangeable, and the total length of the chain depending on the number of cards connected by the links.

2. The combination with a plurality of sample cards, of intermediate links detachably and flexibly connecting the said cards and adapting said cards to be folded in a pack and to be extended either on straight or irregular lines, the said cards being interchangeable, the total length of the chain depending on the number of cards connected by the links,. and the said links having transverse intermediate kerfs or creases for facilitating the bending thereof to permit the sample cards to be folded into a pack.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

GEORGE ROBBINS.

\Vitnesses HARRY D. Krneonn, F. D, MERCHANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

